Greens reject government’s ridiculous TURC secret volume offer

Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said the Greens Party Room has rejected the government’s last minute offer for one member of the Greens Party Room to view the secret volume of the Trade Union Royal Commission report. Mr Bandt said the offer that came through late last night was verging on the ridiculous and called on the government to treat all Members of Parliament equally.

“This is verging on the ridiculous. The government is descending into farce,” said Mr Bandt.

“The government said they have an important document that would convince people to pass draconian legislation, but when we asked to see it, they refused.”

“Then late last night the government offered to let only one member of the Greens Party Room see the secret report, but not take notes, talk to anyone about it or discuss it with other Greens MPs.”

“We will not be accepting the government’s ridiculous offer and we will be continuing to oppose the ABCC bill in Parliament.”

“You can’t ask people to vote on a piece of legislation when some have seen a document but can't talk about it and everyone else is just asked to accept the government's word about what's in it."

“If the government thinks it has facts that will change people’s minds they should do what every other government has done before and bring them to the Parliament so we can debate them.”

“The last time there was a Royal Commission and there was a secret report volume, it was a fizzer and not one prosecution arose out of it.”

“The Greens suspect that the government is grasping at straws and that there is precious little in this so-called secret volume.”

Greens Democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said: “The Greens have proposed genuine anti-corruption reforms and a national ICAC in the past, and the Coalition have always said there is no need for those.”

“It is farcical for this government to use ‘corruption’ as a false cover for ideologically motivated attacks on workers and the Coalition’s political enemies.”

We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri as the Traditional Owners of this country, pay tribute to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and give respect to the Elders past, present and emerging.